Geometry Research Articles

New distribution and range extension records of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) from two western Himalayan protected areas

This article presents new distribution and range extension records (including new records from the state of Uttarakhand) of 12 species of the Geometridae family along with their taxonomic records. The records are based on field collections, where sampling was done along elevation and vegetation gradients in the buffer zones of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve and Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, two prominent protected areas in the western Himalayan Indian state of Uttarakhand. DNA barcoding was performed for some of the species for confirmation of identification in addition to the morphological identifications. Voucher specimens are deposited in a public repository for future reference.

Insect taxonomy can be difficult: a noctuid moth (Agaristinae: Aletopus imperialis) and a geometrid moth (Sterrhinae: Cartaletis dargei) combined into a cryptic species complex in eastern Africa (Lepidoptera).

The systematic position of a large and strikingly coloured reddish-black moth, Cartaletis dargei Herbulot, 2003 (Geometridae: Sterrhinae) from Tanzania, has remained questionable since its description. Here we present molecular and morphological evidence showing that Cartaletis dargei only superficially resembles true Cartaletis Warren, 1894 (the relative name currently considered a junior synonym of Aletis Hübner, 1820), which are unpalatable diurnal moths superficially resembling butterflies, and that it is misplaced in the family Geometridae. We transfer it to Noctuidae: Agaristinae, and combine it with the genus Aletopus Jordan, 1926, from Tanzania, as Aletopus dargei (Herbulot, 2003) (new combination). We revise the genus Aletopus to contain three species, but find that it is a cryptic species complex that needs to be revised with more extensive taxon sampling. Our results demonstrate the difficulties in interpreting and classifying biological diversity. We discuss the problems in species delimitation and the potential drivers of evolution in eastern Africa that led to phenotypic similarity in unrelated lepidopteran lineages.

Molecular phylogeny, classification, biogeography and diversification patterns of a diverse group of moths (Geometridae: Boarmiini)

Understanding how and why some groups have become more species-rich than others, and how past biogeography may have shaped their current distribution, are questions that evolutionary biologists have long attempted to answer. We investigated diversification patterns and historical biogeography of a hyperdiverse lineage of Lepidoptera, the geometrid moths, by studying its most species-rich tribe Boarmiini, which comprises ca. 200 genera and ca. known 3000 species. We inferred the evolutionary relationships of Boarmiini based on a dataset of 346 taxa, with up to eight genetic markers under a maximum likelihood approach. The monophyly of Boarmiini is strongly supported. However, the phylogenetic position of many taxa does not agree with current taxonomy, although the monophyly of most major genera within the tribe is supported after minor adjustments. Three genera are synonymized, one new combination is proposed, and four species are placed in incertae sedis within Boarmiini. Our results support the idea of a rapid initial diversification of Boarmiini, which also implies that no major taxonomic subdivisions of the group can currently be proposed. A time-calibrated tree and biogeographical analyses suggest that boarmiines appeared in Laurasia ca. 52 Mya, followed by dispersal events throughout the Australasian, African and Neotropical regions. Most of the transcontinental dispersal events occurred in the Eocene, a period of intense geological activity and rapid climate change. Diversification analyses showed a relatively constant diversification rate for all Boarmiini, except in one clade containing the species-rich genus Cleora. The present work represents a substantial contribution towards understanding the evolutionary origin of Boarmiini moths. Our results, inevitably biased by taxon sampling, highlight the difficulties with working on species-rich groups that have not received much attention outside of Europe. Specifically, poor knowledge of the natural history of geometrids (particularly in tropical clades) limits our ability to identify key innovations underlying the diversification of boarmiines.

Noctuid and geometrid moth assemblages show divergent elevational gradients in body size and color lightness

Previous macroecological studies have suggested that larger and darker insects are favored in cold environments and that the importance of body size and color for the absorption of solar radiation is not limited to diurnal insects. However, whether these effects hold true for local communities and are consistent across taxonomic groups and sampling years remains unexplored. This study examined the variations in body size and color lightness of the two major families of nocturnal moths, Geometridae and Noctuidae, along an elevational gradient of 700 m in Southern Germany. An assemblage‐based analysis was performed using community‐weighted means and a fourth‐corner analysis to test for variations in color and body size among communities as a function of elevation. This was followed by a species‐level analysis to test whether species occurrence and abundance along an elevation gradient were related to these traits, after controlling for host plant availability. In both 2007 and 2016, noctuid moth assemblages became larger and darker with increasing elevation, whereas geometrids showed an opposite trend in terms of color lightness and no clear trend in body size. In single species models, the abundance of geometrids, but not of noctuids, was driven by habitat availability. In turn, the abundance of dark‐colored noctuids, but not geometrids increased with elevation. While body size and color lightness affect insect physiology and the ability to cope with harsh conditions, divergent trait–environment relationships between both families underline that findings of coarse‐scale studies are not necessarily transferable to finer scales. Local abundance and occurrence of noctuids are shaped by morphological traits, whereas that of geometrids are rather shaped by local habitat availability, which can modify their trait–environment‐relationship. We discuss potential explanations such as taxon‐specific flight characteristics and the effect of microclimatic conditions.

Multi-factor influence on the roughness of the finished surface

The aim of this work is to develop a novel approach for ensuring the quality of the finished surface based on a multi-factor model. The proposed model can take into account most of the machining process parameters. The main parameters include cutting conditions, dynamic stability of the cutting process, thermal effects in the cutting area. The development of a multi-factor model was based on a literature review and experimental data obtained from the cutting force analysis and colour pyrometry. The data obtained were summarised into a unified multi-factor model. We analysed the key literature sources and summarised the experimental data and findings to assure finished surface quality when controlling one of the input parameters of the machining process. It was shown that the surface quality (roughness) can be achieved by applying different machining parameters. They include the rational cutting conditions, a change in the geo m-etry of a cutting tool, reducing the relative spacial dynamic vibrations of the tool relative to the working surface of the raw part, using the methods influencing the physical and mechanical properties of the processed materials. It was established that the process dynamic stability, the cutting conditions or the chip formation process can be used as an input parameter. The proposed scheme of multi-factor influence of processing parameters on the output parameter - the surface roughness - applies to any materials under processing. The created model takes into account all input parameters of mechanical processing. It aims at the quality management of the finished surface based on the required performance characteristics of the items. Based on the proposed multi-factor scheme, we plan to create an adaptive system capable of controlling the mechanical processing based on a computer numeric control machining centre.

El enfoque de diseño de un puente de hormigón pretensado construido en los años 50 en Italia

En los años 50 se diseñaron y construyeron en Italia los primeros puentes realizados con la técnica emergente del hormigón pretensado (PC). En este trabajo se presenta el diseño del puente de San Nicola levantado en Benevento (Italia) y diseñado por Riccardo Morandi en 1952-1955 con el fin de analizar su diseño conceptual. Se ha examinado el diseño original evidenciando un cuidadoso proceso de optimización mediante la adopción de un innovador método de construcción con dovelas prefabricadas. La importancia de algunas decisiones geométricas, el esquema estático y el procedimiento de pretensado en la respuesta estructural de la estructura se comentan también mediante ejemplos sencillos.

Potential of Climate Change and Herbivory to Affect the Release and Atmospheric Reactions of BVOCs from Boreal and Subarctic Forests.

Compared to most other forest ecosystems, circumpolar boreal and subarctic forests have few tree species, and are prone to mass outbreaks of herbivorous insects. A short growing season with long days allows rapid plant growth, which will be stimulated by predicted warming of polar areas. Emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) from soil and vegetation could be substantial on sunny and warm days and biotic stress may accelerate emission rates. In the atmosphere, BVOCs are involved in various gas-phase chemical reactions within and above forest canopies. Importantly, the oxidation of BVOCs leads to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. SOA particles scatter and absorb solar radiation and grow to form cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and participate in cloud formation. Through BVOC and moisture release and SOA formation and condensation processes, vegetation has the capacity to affect the abiotic environment at the ecosystem scale. Recent BVOC literature indicates that both temperature and herbivory have a major impact on BVOC emissions released by woody species. Boreal conifer forest is the largest terrestrial biome and could be one of the largest sources of biogenic mono- and sesquiterpene emissions due to the capacity of conifer trees to store terpene-rich resins in resin canals above and belowground. Elevated temperature promotes increased diffusion of BVOCs from resin stores. Moreover, insect damage can break resin canals in needles, bark, and xylem and cause distinctive bursts of BVOCs during outbreaks. In the subarctic, mountain birch forests have cyclic outbreaks of Geometrid moths. During outbreaks, trees are often completely defoliated leading to an absence of BVOC-emitting foliage. However, in the years following an outbreak there is extended shoot growth, a greater number of leaves, and greater density of glandular trichomes that store BVOCs. This can lead to a delayed chemical defense response resulting in the highest BVOC emission rates from subarctic forest in the 1–3 years after an insect outbreak. Climate change is expected to increase insect outbreaks at high latitudes due to warmer seasons and arrivals of invasive herbivore species. Increased BVOC emission will affect tropospheric ozone (O3) formation and O3 induced oxidation of BVOCs. Herbivore-induced BVOC emissions from deciduous and coniferous trees are also likely to increase the formation rate of SOA and further growth of the particles in the atmosphere. Field experiments measuring the BVOC emission rates, SOA formation rate and particle concentrations within and above the herbivore attacked forest stands are still urgently needed.

Drastic loss of insects (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in urban landscapes in a tropical biodiversity hotspot

Accelerating urbanization of natural areasis a particularly important threat to biodiversity in tropical countries. Understanding how this phenomenon affects different groups of the fauna is essential to develop conservation actions We evaluate the effects of urbanization on species diversity and composition of geometrid moths in a tropical biodiversity hotspot in southern Ecuador. Moths were collected at different land-use types: forest, forest-pasture, pasture, and urban. We collected a total of 3064 moths representing 299 morphospecies. Species richness of geometrid moths decreased drastically in the more urbanized areas and moth communities differed strongly in composition between the investigated habitats. Community composition was mainly affected by floristic composition and degree of urbanization. Beta diversity components between land-use types depend on the degree of disturbance, with turnover among communities dominant in initial transitions and nestedness prevailing at later stages of transitions. In summary, moth assemblages in this tropical biodiversity hotspot are not only severely impoverished due to urbanization, but the remaining assemblages are strongly different from those found in natural ecosystems. Implications for insect conservation. To mitigate negative effects we recommend a more cautious development of urbanized areas in the region through the creation of more green space within the city, mainly with high diversity of native plants which can serve as potential hosts for caterpillars of moths and multiple other insects.

Making Light of Convicts

Making Light of Convicts

A new species of larval Achaemenothrombium (Prostigmata: Achaemenothrombiidae) from Iran with new host records

ABSTRACT The larval species of the family Achaemenothrombiidae have been described only from Iran and they are known as parasites of Lepidoptera (Noctuidae) and Orthoptera (Acrididae). Achaemenothrombium saboorii Noei sp. nov. (Trombidiformes: Trombidioidea: Achaemenothrombiidae) is described and illustrated. The families Crambidae, Erebidae, Geometridae (Lepidoptera), and Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera) are recorded as hosts of Achaemenothrombium larvae for the first time from South Khorasan province, Iran. Also, the generic diagnosis of the genus Achaemenothrombium is amended and a key to larvae is updated. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3EE25E02-44B6-4286-97B8-D2FB74591373

Temperature-Dependent Viscosity Model for Silicone Oil and Its Application in Viscous Dampers

Silicone fluids belong to the group of pseudoplastic non-Newtonian fluids with complex rheological characteristics. They are considered in basic and applied researches and in a wide range of industrial applications due to their favorable physical and thermal properties. One of their specific field of applications in the automotive industry is the working fluid of viscous torsional vibration dampers. For numerical studies in the design and development phase of this damping product, it is essential to have thorough rheological knowledge and mathematical description about the silicone oil viscosity. In the present work, adopted rheological measurement results conducted on polydimethylsiloxane manufactured by Wacker Chemie with initial viscosity of 1000 Pas (AK 1 000 000 STAB silicone oil) are processed. As a result of the parameter identification by nonlinear regression, the temperature-dependent parameter curves of the Carreau–Yasuda non-Newtonian viscosity model are generated. By implementing these parameter sets into a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, a temperature- and shear-rate-dependent viscosity model of silicone fluid was tested, using transient flow and thermal simulations on elementary tube geometries in the size range of a real viscous torsional vibration damper’s flow channels and filling chambers. The numerical results of the finite volume method provide information about the developed flow processes, with especial care for the resulted flow pattern, shear rate, viscosity and timing.

Topological, Mechanical and Biological Properties of Ti6Al4V Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Regeneration Fabricated with Reused Powders via Electron Beam Melting.

Cellularized scaffold is emerging as the preferred solution for tissue regeneration and restoration of damaged functionalities. However, the high cost of preclinical studies creates a gap between investigation and the device market for the biomedical industry. In this work, bone-tailored scaffolds based on the Ti6Al4V alloy manufactured by electron beam melting (EBM) technology with reused powder were investigated, aiming to overcome issues connected to the high cost of preclinical studies. Two different elementary unit cell scaffold geometries, namely diamond (DO) and rhombic dodecahedron (RD), were adopted, while surface functionalization was performed by coating scaffolds with single layers of polycaprolactone (PCL) or with mixture of polycaprolactone and 20 wt.% hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA). The mechanical and biological performances of the produced scaffolds were investigated, and the results were compared to software simulation and experimental evidence available in literature. Good mechanical properties and a favorable environment for cell growth were obtained for all combinations of scaffold geometry and surface functionalization. In conclusion, powder recycling provides a viable practice for the biomedical industry to strongly reduce preclinical costs without altering biomechanical performance.

Redescription of the little-known geometrid moth Perigune jordanaria (Staudinger, 1901), with description of a new subspecies (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

We redescribe the rare geometrid moth Perigune jordanaria (Staudinger, 1901) which was originally discovered in the Jordan Valley (Israel, Palestine). Specimens from south-eastern Turkey are described here as Perigune jordanaria anatolica subsp. n. and the differences between this taxon and the nominotypical populations are given. Within the mitochondrial COI barcode sequences, the genetic distance between nominate subspecies and the new subspecies is not BIN-sharing with the nominotypical subspecies and diverging from the latter by 2.5%.

On the natural history of Cosmophyga cortesi Vargas (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), a little-known geometrid moth of the Atacama Desert

The integration of field work with DNA barcoding is useful to disentangle lepidopteran interactions in nature. Adults of the little-known geometrid moth Cosmophyga cortesi Vargas, 2008 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) were reared from folivorous larvae collected on the native tree Schinus areira L. (Anacardiaceae) at about 260 and 1500 m elevation in the transverse valleys of the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. Similarity of two DNA barcodes of C. cortesi was 99.7 and 100% with one sequence of an unidentified geometrid larva previously collected in a cell of the potter wasp Hypodynerus andeus (Packard, 1869) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). This finding represents the first host plant record for C. cortesi, expands its previously documented altitudinal range by more than 1200 m and confirms that its larvae are captured by females of a potter wasp.

Coherent perfect absorption in plasmonic planar metasurface

The coherent perfect absorption (CPA) for a planar resonator of silver has been elaborated here in numerical and analytical approaches. It is investigated numerically in different geometrical shapes and spectral regimes. The CPA mode is observed to be spectrally sensitive to the geometry of the resonator. The scattering matrix method is employed in theoretical analysis. The CPA conditions and output irradiance expressions are extracted. The mode is studied by the relative phase between two counter inputs of the resonator. The appearance of this mode is attributable to the dipole resonance effect. The way light is controlled in the required regime in perfect subwavelength structural geometry is obtained in this study. The nanostructure is functional in optical switching, modulation and terahertz sensor of photonics devices. Key words: Sensor, modulation, resonator, scattering and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD).

Fetal dosimetry for 18F-FDG PET Imaging during pregnancy: a comparative Monte Carlo study

Abstract:Introduction: Current reported values of fetal doses from 18F-FDG in pregnant women imaged with PET scan showed a large variation. This study aimed to evaluate fetal radiation doses using the last generation of computational pregnant phantoms and also to shed light on one of the uncertainty components of the fetal dose.Materials and Methods: In this respects, we used a BREP series of computational pregnant phantoms to evaluate radiation doses to the fetus. We also reviewed available data on fetal time-integrated activities and evaluated the confidence and prediction (95%) intervals for the existing data. By doing this, the uncertainty of fetal Biokinetic data was taken into account in fetal dose calculations.Results: The fetal doses of 2.30E-02, 1.53E-02, and 1.02E-02 mGy/MBq at 3, 6 and 9 month of gestation were estimated. The results also showed the contributions of source organs to the fetal doses. The maternal “urinary bladder contents” and “other organs and tissues” are the main source regions contributing to fetal dose. We also indicated that the Biokinetic variation caused a large uncertainty on fetal dose (with prediction interval from 1.73E-02 to 3.93E-02 mGy/MBq) at first trimester of pregnancy, while it is much lower at second and third trimesters. Furthermore, it is indicated that variations on fetal dose outside the determined intervals may be related to the geometrical differences of used computational phantoms.Conclusions: Since the fetal dose is much higher and the radiation exposure is more deterministic at first trimester of pregnancy, attempting to accurately evaluate the fetal dose is relevant at this stage.

Eupithecia breviculata (Donzel, 1937) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) — first record in Ukraine

Geometrid moth Eupithecia breviculata (Donzel, 1937) is provided for the fauna of Ukraine for the first time. Mediterranean species, which area spread territory in Europe from Portugal to the southern Urals. The record of this species in the steppe zone of Ukraine is natural because it is known from neighboring countries: Romania (regions Dobrogea and Moldova) and Russia (Rostov region). Moth was found in the vicinity of Roksolany village of Ovidiopol district of Odesa region in the border of steppe slope of Dniester estuary and forest shelter. Thus, this record clarifies our understanding of Eupithecia breviculata distribution and supplements the list of geometrid moths of Ukraine with one more species.

Diseño, Construcción y Capacidades del Large Universal Shell Element Tester

El Large Universal Shell Element Tester (LUSET) es un nuevo dispositivo de ensayos, desarrollado en la ETH Zúrich, el cual facilita el estudio del comportamiento mecánico, a escala real, de elementos lámina de hormigón armado sujetos a solicitaciones en sus tres dimensiones (esfuerzos combinados de elementos tipo losa y membrana). En este artículo se presentan los motivos que condujeron al desarrollo del LUSET y, adicionalmente, se describen sus componentes, el software de control y los sistemas de medición. Finalmente, se presenta una breve descripción de la serie de ensayos usada para validar la funcionalidad del LUSET, así como, un resumen de sus posibilidades.

Bacterial Bridges: Controlling Geometry and Flow Through Bacterial Bridges on Patterned Lubricant‐Infused Surfaces (pLIS) (Small 52/2020)

Bacterial Bridges: Controlling Geometry and Flow Through Bacterial Bridges on Patterned Lubricant‐Infused Surfaces (pLIS) (Small 52/2020)

A DFT study on Sumanene, Corannulene and Nanosheet as the Anodes in Li−Ion Batteries

Herein, we studied interactions between the Li neutral atom and Li+ ion and three types of nanoparticles including sumanene (Sum), corannulene (Cor), and nanosheet to obtain the cell voltage (V) for Li−ion batteries (LIBs). Total energies, geometry optimizations, Frontier Molecular Orbital (FMO), and Density of States (DOS) analyses have been obtained using M06−2X level of theory and 6−31+G (d,p) basis set. DFT calculations clarified that the changes of energy adsorption between Li+ ion and nanoparticles, Ead,are in the order: Sheet > Sum−I > Cor > Cor−I > Sum. However, the Vcell for Sum is the highest. The changes in Vcell of Li−ion batteries (LIBs) are in the order: Sum > Sheet > Sum−i > Cor > Cor−i.This study theoretically indicates the possibility of Li as the anode in the battery field.